Smithsonian Visits Meridian

The Smithsonian's "Produce for Victory" traveling exhibit will remain on display at Meridian's old REA Building on Front Street through Aug. 31.

"For my generation these kind of exhibits are what we need to see to learn about the events that took place that gave us the freedom that we enjoy today," said Craig Hitt, president of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors.

This exhibition portrays those events clearly with their art. If you are able to visit the site, you'll see depictions of a battle cry from a sailor and a civilian worker. The idea was to show they wereboth vital to the war effort.

The same was true of the 'give them both barrels' poster. Both menwere in the fight in their own way.

Military aviation came into its own during World War II. Several posters urged the purchase of war bonds.

Today we are concerned about possible homefront attacks. The same was true during the second World War as the portrait of youngsters in gas masks clearly shows.

Another poster symbolized management and labor, both rolling up their sleeves, emphazing teamwork with the line 'Together we can do it.'

There were scare posters, too. A Nazi stormtrooper was the Bin Laden of his day as one poster clearly shows.

See Rosie the Riveter poster, which paid tribute to the many women who went to work in America's factories to help our country win the war. Thes and others are part of the exhibit.

The Smithsonian sent Anna Cohn of their staff to represent them at the opening. "From the nation's museum, on behalf of all of us, we are so incredibly honored to be not just where the action is in Meridian but this is America in Meridian tonight," said Cohn.

The Posters on the American Homefront, 1941-1945 display is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Sundays. There is no charge for admission.

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